Age UK launches guide to managed personal budgets

Age UK has published a guide showing how the system of managed personal budgets could work better for older people, giving them greater choice and control.

The publication “Making Managed Personal Budgets Work for Older People: what older people want, what works and how to achieve the best outcomes” is an addition to the Age UK Expert Series and is aimed at local authorities, social workers and service providers.

Although older people are by far the largest group of social care users, the personal budget system was initially designed for younger disabled people, meaning that many older people have to date struggled to get the best out of the system. This was recognised in a report by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) last summer.

Currently around 85% of older people with a personal budget have one managed by their local authority1. Some of those people are not even aware they have a personal budget. Evidence suggests that older people on managed personal budgets experience restricted choice and control compared with those on direct payments2.

By highlighting the latest research and best practice, the guide helps those working with older people, and local authorities, understand what older people want from their personal budgets and how best to help them achieve maximum choice, control and fully personalised care and support.